TUFI Trade Union Delegation to Israel and Palestine

TUFI took a delegation of trade unionists to Israel and Palestine from Sunday 30 October to 4 November 2011. The visit included high level meetings with Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists, parliamentarians, diplomats and opinion formers across Israel and the West Bank. If you are interested in finding out more about the delegation, you can read some of the delegates' posts on TUFI’s delegation blog.

TUFI regularly organises delegations to Israel and Palestine which aim to provide a comprehensive picture of the politics and society of the region. The visits focus on trade union issues and Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation, the demographically diverse peoples of both Israel and Palestine, Israel’s security dilemmas and Palestinian progress towards statehood.

General strike in Israel set to shut down airports, banks and schools

The Histadrut (Israeli TUC) has announced a general strike to start today (6 November), which could see airports, ports, banks and the stock market close. Talks with the Government have so far failed to produce an agreement over the status of contract workers.

The Histadrut wants the Government to hire some 250,000 contract workers, who currently have inferior working conditions to employees directly on the Government’s payroll. Talks over the weekend failed to find an agreement, although Finance Ministry officials agreed that employment terms for contract workers needed to be improved.

Ofer Eini, the Chairman of the Histadrut, said the strike would be “unlimited” and that only a court injunction would prevent it from going ahead.

Israel and Palestinian Authority agree to submit “comprehensive proposals” on “territory and security” within three months

Representatives of the Middle East Quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) met separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on 27 October. The meetings failed to bring about an agreement on the resumption of direct peace talks, something that the Israeli government has been calling for since June 2009, however both sides were persuaded to present “comprehensive proposals” for resolving key aspects of their conflict within three months.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, addressed the UN Security Council on 24 October and spoke of the importance of resolving the conflict. He emphasised that direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were necessary for stability in the region and asserted that “the road to peace can only be built on a foundation of mutual recognition and dialogue”.

Israeli government responds to social protests by raising taxes for the wealthy

The Israeli Government has responded to mass social protests by implementing policies to boost equality. The cabinet accepted proposals laid out in the Trajtenberg report, by raising taxes on the wealthiest sections of society. The Trajtenberg Committee was established to provide socio-economic recommendations to the Government following the social protests that swept the country over the summer.

The policies, which the cabinet voted for unanimously, include a levy in corporation tax, and raising the highest bracket for tax from 45 to 48 percent.

Hundreds of Israelis gather in solidarity with economic demonstrations around the world

Hundreds of Israelis have been gathering in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Kiryat Shmona in solidarity with economic demonstrations being held across the world.

Dor Nahman, a spokesman for the protesters said: “We saw what is going on around the world and we decided to initiate local events to connect Israel with the world".

The longest ever private-sector strike in Israel comes to an end

A six-month strike at Haifa Chemicals Ltd in Israel came to an end on 1 November after the management, the workers’ committee and Koach La Ovdim (Democratic Workers’ Organisation) signed a new contract agreement. The strike is the longest ever private-sector strike in Israel.

The agreement means that employees will get a pay rise of up to 24% over five years.

Light rail back on track after Israeli train drivers reach a deal

A 30-hour strike by train drivers in Israel has come to an end following a new salary agreement.

Yossi Hazan, the head of the drivers’ committee, said he was happy with the new deal, adding that it is only fair that train drivers get paid the as much as bus driviers.

British union rejects boycott call

The Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff (NAPO) has rejected calls to boycott Israel. The union, which represents more than 9,000 officers and family court workers, debated two anti-Israel motions at its annual conference on October 8.

Speaking after the vote, NAPO national representative, Jack Cohen, said he was "delighted” that delegates had defeated the “anti-Israel” motions.

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit set free Israeli soldier

Gilad Shalit returned to Israel on 18 October after being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza strip for over five years with no access to the outside world, including the Red Cross.

In exchange for his freedom, 477 Palestinian prisoners were released and another 550 prisoners are expected to be freed next month, of whom hundreds have been directly involved in terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

Israel subject to sustained rocket attacks from Gaza militants

Militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza strip have continued to launch rocket attacks into Israel over the past week. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that over 60 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza into Israel since 29 October.

An Israeli father of four was killed by a rocket on 29 October and many others have been wounded. More than a million Israelis have been forced to take shelter and schools have been closed.

Israel assists in Turkey earthquake relief effort

Israel sent emergency response teams to Israel following the major earthquake in the east of the country on 23 October. The Israeli aid convoy included several portable structures to provide refuge to survivors who had lost their homes.

Israel has often played an integral role in emergency response teams, being one of the first countries to provide a rescue team for the 2010 Haiti earthquake.